Centre News

Violin virtuoso and performance artist Hahn-Bin gave a
convocation address, sponsored by campus organization Q&A,
as well as a performance at Club Weisiger in late September.

Violin virtuoso Hahn-Bin gave a performance in Weisiger Theatre at the Norton Center for the Arts on Friday September 30 at 8 p.m. with pianist John Blacklow. Hahn-Bin’s residency at Centre was made possible by the Annaliese Soros Educational Residency Program.

From a very early age, Hahn-Bin has taken the classical music world by storm. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Hahn-Bin won first place in a violin competition hosted by the Korea Times at the age of five. At the age of twelve, he made his international debut performing at the Grammy Awards. Hahn-Bin went on to study at the Julliard School under renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman, after which he played at Carnegie Hall for the first time in 2009 at the age of 22.

Though only in his early 20s, Hahn-Bin has already gained enormous prestige, winning first place in the Young Concert Artists International auditions. Hahn-Bin has performed at numerous highly respected venues, including the Kennedy Center, the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Konzerthaus in Berlin and even the Museum of Modern Art in New York as part of an exhibition of Andy Warhol’s work.

Hahn-Bin does more than simply play the violin, however. His performances also include theatrics, costume changes, lighting displays and performance art. Hahn-Bin has been called “the love-child of fiery violinist Paganini and super-diva Grace Jones.”

Along with watching world-class performances like these, this year Centre students will have more opportunities to interact with Norton Center for the Arts performers more than ever before. Hahn-Bin delivered a convocation address for students on Thursday Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. in Weisiger Theatre. The convocation, sponsored by Queers & Allies, a campus organization previously known as B-GLAD, gave students the chance to interact with Hahn-Bin on a personal level, asking him questions and hearing him speak about living as someone who doesn’t identify with either gender.

“Hahn-Bin provided one of the most inspiring and entertaining convocations of the year,” says Q&A president Jordan Wilkinson ’12. “Just by looking at what he stands for and represents, I know that it was something everyone walked away from touched and changed.”

A matinee performance for middle school and high school students was also given on Thursday Sept. 29 at 1 p.m.

Have comments, suggestions, or story ideas? E-mail elizabeth.trollinger@centre.edu with your feedback.

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Forbes magazine ranks Centre 24th among all the nation's colleges and universities and has named Centre No. 1 among all institutions of higher education in the South for two years in a row. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, click here.